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Manchester City's Abu Dhabi family owners "tried and tried" to purchase Liverpool before they ended up at their Premier League rivals, according to Graeme Souness.

Speaking to Sky Sports' The Football Show, the former Reds captain detailed a brief chat he had with businesswoman Amanda Staveley, who was involved in Sheikh Mansour's football era-defining purchase of City in September 2008.

Prior to that, Staveley had been spotted in attendance at matches at Anfield, most notably the Champions League semi-final first leg with Chelsea five months before the City deal.

It was common knowledge at the time that the Dubai International Capital group headed by Sheikh Mohammed - who is Sheikh Mansour's father-in-law - was closing in on a deal to buy 49 per cent of Liverpool, with Staveley set for a job on the club's board.

Staveley was at Anfield for Liverpool's clash with Chelsea in April 2008 (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

But the deal fell through amid mounting issues for Reds owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, who had run out of money and friends by the time they were almost chased out of Liverpool in 2010, when Fenway Sports Group stepped in.

"I went to Dubai, 12, 13 years ago. Stayed in Atlantis Hotel, arrived early afternoon," he said.

"Walked round the hotel with my wife and my son and went to the Nobu restaurant which was empty just after lunch.

Souness says the owners wanted Liverpool before they bought City (Image: Sky Sports)

"On the way out someone came over and introduced themselves, then a lady came over she introduced herself as Amanda. 'I'm a Liverpool supporter,' she said.

"During the conversation she said 'I'm responsible for taking the Abu Dhabi family to Man City' and I said, 'but five minutes ago you said you were a Liverpool supporter - why did you not take them to Liverpool?'

"She said: 'I tried and I tried but Gillett and Hicks were so difficult to deal with, they just walked away in the end.'"

Addressing fellow guest Gary Neville, Souness then added: "You should be thanking your lucky stars that dosh didn't end up in Liverpool."